🏕️ Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park 🏨🌄

#foodandstay Planning your Yosemite trip? Whether you’re into cozy cabins, canvas tents, or hotels with mountain views, here’s your guide to staying in or near this iconic park 👇 🌿 In-Park Stays: Sleep Among the Granite Giants 🏞️ Yosemite Valley (Best for First-Timers) 📍 Close to: Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, trailheads The Ahwahnee – Historic luxury, grand dining room, $$$ Yosemite Valley Lodge – Mid-range, near Yosemite Falls Curry Village (formerly Half Dome Village) – Cabins, tent cabins, and lodge rooms Housekeeping Camp – Rustic open-air units w/ electricity (great for families!) 🏔️ Wawona Area 📍 Near the southern entrance (Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias) Wawona Hotel – Charming Victorian vibes Quieter alternative to the Valley 🌲 High Country (Tuolumne Meadows – Summer Only) 📍 For alpine lakes and fewer crowds Tuolumne Meadows Lodge – Tent cabins, remote, only open ~June–Sept 🛣️ Closed in winter due to Tioga Road snow ⛺ Yosemite Campgrounds (Book Early!) Upper Pines Campground – Most popular in Yosemite Valley North Pines & Lower Pines – Also in the Valley, great for tent or RV Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat – Quieter options, short drive to main areas 🏘️ Outside the Park: Great Base Towns 🛎️ El Portal, CA (Closest) ✅ Just 10–15 mins from Yosemite Valley 🛏️ Small town with basic hotels like Yosemite View Lodge (great river views) 🏡 Groveland, CA (West Entrance) ✅ Gateway via Big Oak Flat Entrance 🎯 Cute Gold Rush town, good food, fun vibes Try Rush Creek Lodge or Groveland Hotel 🏞️ Oakhurst, CA (South Entrance) ✅ Ideal if visiting Mariposa Grove or combining with Sequoia/Kings Canyon 🛏️ Larger town with restaurants, markets, and hotels 🚘 Lee Vining/Mammoth Lakes (East Side – Summer Only) ✅ Only accessible via Tioga Pass Road (open ~June–Oct) 🌄 Stunning views and fewer crowds Scenic stay for road trippers linking Yosemite to Death Valley or Nevada 🧭 Quick Stay Tips: ✅ Book in-park lodging 6–12 months in advance ✅ Mix it up: one night in the Valley, one night outside for flexibility ✅ Budget traveler? Curry Village tent cabins are affordable + central ✅ Visiting in winter? Yosemite Valley Lodge and Ahwahnee stay open year-round!